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Mentors for Military Veterans: Where? Why?

There are those that reach out to get help every day and do not know where to look. Then there are those that are looking for those that they can mentor. Some of those that are looking are among military veterans, and those that want to help do not realize how rewarding helping a veteran get started in their new lives as civilians can be.

Why Veterans Need a Mentor

Military life and civilian life are worlds apart. There is need for a mentor to help the military veteran to transition from the dependence that is ingrained into the soldier’s mindset. Sure, soldiers are taught self-reliance and how to live in the solutions to their situations, but rarely are they taught to go it alone.

In the military, it is “no man left behind; depend on your teammates to get the mission accomplished, they have your back.” There is no dog-eat-dog mentality like there can sometimes be in the workplace.

Expectations Different

In the military, there is an expectation of upward moving and pay increases as you go higher in rank. Pay is associated with your grade and it is normally the same for the same pay grade across the board. Not in civilian life. You will be paid for your skill set in the secular world, and many times there may not be room for you to move up if those offices that you desire are filled for years.

After being in the military for so many years, veterans will need someone that can show them what is trending, who’s-who in business and where to look for agencies that can help them get settled.

Help with Families

Not only do veterans need help transitioning into the civilian business world, but they will need help with settling their families into the community. They have been moving all over the world and are now in need of good communities with good schools and homes. Mentors can help connect veterans and their spouses to these types of organizations.

There is Help

If you are a veteran and need the extra help that a mentor can bring to your life and the life of your family, check out a few that we have listed here:

JumpStart, started by Mr. Morgan with the entrepreneur in mind is a good place to go when you leave the military. When you leave the military sometimes jobs are not available, but starting your own business is an option.

They have the following service functions when mentoring their clients;

Team approach- you are matched not with one, but up to 4 mentors that are specific to your needs.

Different Mindsets- you get diverse perspectives but all their mentors are professionals that are experts in their field. They know the challenges that face entrepreneurs and are ready to tackle a complex situation that could occur.

Success Stories- all mentors at Jumpstart.com have a history of success. They are well known in their field as top business leaders and have themselves gained success.

They want you to succeed- It is not only your interest that these fine successful mentors take the time to help, they know that when they teach you how to be successful it contributes to a thriving economic base that they too are a part of. They know that when one of us succeeds, we all succeed.

With a staff of ex-military on hand to mentor you, the Jonas Project offers to guide their mentees for up to two years to help those transitioning into civilian life get a good footing in their new businesses. They provide:

Mentor support

Resources lists of banks and businesses that cater to veterans

Mentors that guide and provide proven coaching advice, increasing the probability of a successful civilian business venture

This organization was created with the veteran in mind when it comes to criminal justice, treatment court and the gaps in service that sometimes cause veterans to suffer when returning home. Sometimes veterans need special consideration to keep them out of jail, making sure they are assessed in a fair manner due to problems with drug use and PTSD. These traumas are not noticed by the so called normal agencies in society and Justice for Vets gives our veterans the resources that put them in the right hands, leading them to healing and help. They provide:

Resources for Court professionals:

Getting their programs exposure through media attention on Veterans Day.

Publications for distribution to their mentees

Mentors to accompany Vets to Treatment court

Help with implementing a treatment court program in your area

Resources for Vets and Families:

Information on how to find your local VJO (Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist)

Although Management Mentors is not just for veterans, it offered so much help in the way of entrepreneur help that we had to list it. What it does is help the mentor begin a mentoring business the right way. If you are a veteran this may be the start of a great business for you. You have the skill and the experience to offer to another of your peers and the opportunity now that you are a civilian to get this business up and started. What they offer is:

Nova is where you need to go as a veteran to get in touch with private members of the bar association who represent military members in disability claims against the VA. There is an extensive list of lawyers on the site and they explicitly ask that only those in the military use the site. They are committed to taking your cases and mentoring you throughout your transition and your case.

Many Vets come out of the armed forces disillusioned about the help they can get, but they must turn to the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, they will listen. They realize that PTSD is a reality for many soldiers and they will help. Some of the subjects that they cover are:

Disability compensation

Pension

GI Bill/Education benefits

Rehabilitation and Employment services

Dependents Educational Assistance

Survivor Benefits

Home Loans

Life insurance

The quality of mentorship is important for the returning soldier. They may have gone through so much turmoil overseas that they do not want to face the world, or do not remember how. To mentor these men and women is to give your time to someone that will truly appreciate your time and energy.

They need help after trauma, help after being out of the “loop” for so long, help for their families. Spouses that are grieving for lost soldiers need help too. Burials must take place, benefits must be allotted, headstones must be purchased and there is a burial allowance to help take care of these economic hardships.

Realizing that the help that a veteran needs spans across many subjects is more than enough reason to become a mentor, and knowing that there are those out here that want to help a veteran is a reason to reach out for help. If you are one of those that need help, thank you for your service and we hope that this article is helpful.